City council’s winter programme a success, with fun, food and films.
Thousands of hours of free events and hundreds of healthy meals were provided by Milton Keynes City Council in its latest winter activity programme.
The council’s seasonal initiative ran for the last week of the Christmas school holidays, offering indoor and outdoor events for children and their families in 64 locations. Many provided dedicated support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
More than 18,000 hours of sport and learning were organised while hundreds of children, who usually receive a free school dinner, were given healthy meals throughout the holiday period.
The council worked with schools, clubs and charities to provide sports, music, education and crafts, while children and young people learned skills including painting, cookery, climbing and film making. Almost 4,500 individual sessions took place with each including the meal.
A thousand local families also received a free food hamper in the run up to Christmas. Eligible families, including those in receipt of benefit-related free school meals, were able to apply for the box, which contained fresh vegetables and meat worth around £50.
“We are delighted by the feedback we’ve had from families and young people about our latest winter holiday week,” said Councillor Joe Hearnshaw, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People.
“It was incredibly popular, and we were able to support around 2,500 children and young people, which is even more than last year. We’ll keep looking at ways we can support local families in the year ahead.”
